Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today wrote to the Chief Executive Officers of Fortune 500 companies, challenging them to play a leading role in reforming cyber security laws and to distinguish their solutions-oriented cybersecurity leadership from the obstructionist politics of beltway lobbying organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In a series of letters to the CEOs of America's 500 largest businesses, Rockefeller noted that Congress came close to approving new cyber protections this summer--in response to the urgent requests of the Commanding General of Cyber Command and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.http://commerce.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=cf3deb85-e2c4-4ccd-bab8-b9374202f982

Last month, Rockefeller urged President Obama to issue an executive order after the legislation was blocked. President Obama's chief counterterrorism advisor recently wrote Rockefeller to convey the President's determination to use all existing executive authorities to protect the nation from cyber attacks. Rockefeller commended the White House's decision and shared the Administration's belief that even with an executive order, there will remain a need for legislation to fully address American cyber threat readiness.

The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 would provide incentives for critical infrastructure companies that adopt voluntary standards to protect themselves from cyber threats. The goal is to protect critical infrastructure like power plants, utilities, pipelines, transportation and telecommunications networks, hospitals and other systems that American people and businesses rely on for the essentials of daily life.